800.014 Antarctic/11–1548
The Norwegian Ambassador (Morgenstierne) to the Acting Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Norway presents his compliments to his Excellency the Acting Secretary of State, and, referring to the Department of State’s Aide-mémoire, dated August 9, 1948,1 concerning the possible establishment of an international status for the Antarctic area, and to the note dated August 30, 1948,2 from the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of this Embassy, the Ambassador has the honor to inform His Excellency that the Norwegian Government has now studied with great interest the United States’ proposal in this matter.
Norwegian scientists have, as known, made considerable contributions to the exploration of Antarctica, and the Norwegian Government will continue to do its utmost to promote scientific research in this area. The Norwegian Government also firmly desires to contribute to the increase of international co-operation in this field. In this connection may be mentioned that in 1949 a Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition, under Norwegian leadership, will be sent to Queen Maud Land. [Page 1012] It is assumed that this expedition will carry on its scientific research through 1952.
The Norwegian Government is confident, however, that the creation of fully satisfactory international cooperation in the scientific field will be possible without establishing an international regime for the Antarctic area, as proposed by the United States Government. It will be remembered that in a field of utmost importance in Antarctica, namely the meteorological field, an international scientific body—the Committee for Polar Meteorology created by the International Meteorological Organization—has already been established. As far as whaling is concerned, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, dated December 2, 1946, lays down that the International Whaling Commission to be established shall encourage, recommend or, if necessary, organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling (Article IV, 1 (a)).
The Norwegian Government assumes that the interested governments should concentrate their efforts mainly on supporting and facilitating the stipulated tasks of the already existing international organizations for scientific research in Antarctica. The Norwegian Government realizes, however, that the International Committee for Polar Meteorology and the International Whaling Commission cannot cover all fields where scientific research might be desirable, and will consequently welcome any proposal for the establishment of additional, purely scientific, international organizations. Their functions should, however, be clearly defined and coordinated to avoid competition between two or more international organizations.
Moreover, the Norwegian Government deems it desirable that all interested governments pledge themselves mutually to impart to each other the results of scientific research performed by their respective nationals.
Consequently, the Norwegian Government considers the establishment of an international administration for Antarctica unnecessary for the carrying out of the desirable scientific tasks, and cannot subscribe to an arrangement, whereby Norway would waive her exclusive sovereignty over her territories south of the 60 degree south latitude. Norway’s sovereignty over these areas is firmly based upon international law, and the Norwegian Government is confident that the United States Government will appreciate that Norway cannot, for reasons of a national and political character, yield her exclusive sovereignty over what is Norwegian territory.
The Norwegian Government assumes furthermore that the fact of some individual countries having exclusive sovereignty over certain areas in the Antarctic will be an incentive for such countries to pursue scientific research there, for the benefit of all mankind. Sovereignty [Page 1013] can hardly be an impediment to scientific operations. Thus the above mentioned Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition shows that Norway’s exclusive sovereignty over Queen Maud Land in no way impedes co-operation with foreign governments with regard to scientific activities in this area.
The Norwegian Government has noted that the South Shetland and the South Orkney groups, both situated south of the 60 degree south latitude are excepted from the proposed plan (excepted is also South Georgia, situated north of the 60 degree south latitude). By excepting some of the most important areas, claimed by several countries, it seems that this plan would not prove effective in settling the most acute international disagreements in the Antarctic area, which, as far as the Norwegian Government understands, is its foremost political purpose The sacrifice Norway eventually would have to make by renouncing her exclusive sovereignty over Peter I’s Island and the territory between the 45 degree east longitude and the 20 degree west longitude (Queen Maud Land) would thus not contribute effectively to the establishment of peace and harmony in the Antarctic.